Oh yes! My DD is your quintessential 2 year old. I do discipline her and I do not believe she is out of control in any way, but she is definitely 2! Everything is "mine". And she has trouble making up her mind, like she asks for a banana, and when I give it to her, she cries because she wants an apple now. She's in to everything, and it's much worse if she's over tired. I try to keep her well rested and busy, and her behavior is quite manageable.

Oh yes! My DD is your quintessential 2 year old. I do discipline her and I do not believe she is out of control in any way, but she is definitely 2! Everything is "mine". And she has trouble making up her mind, like she asks for a banana, and when I give it to her, she cries because she wants an apple now. She's in to everything, and it's much worse if she's over tired. I try to keep her well rested and busy, and her behavior is quite manageable.

It's a real thing. They are developing more independence, communicating and testing the boundaries. I'm sure there are varying degrees, but most toddlers I know get a little "terrible" between 2 and 3. I think good parenting keep the kids in check, but my 2 year old definitely pushes the buttons. I pick my battles with her.

It's a real thing. They are developing more independence, communicating and testing the boundaries. I'm sure there are varying degrees, but most toddlers I know get a little "terrible" between 2 and 3. I think good parenting keep the kids in check, but my 2 year old definitely pushes the buttons. I pick my battles with her.

I think it's just the age where they start discovering their "self" and realizing that they have a choice (or so they think) in what they do, or how they do things. I absolutely believe that parents use it to excuse bad behavior though. I'm trying really hard to be consistent and nip the bad behavior in the bud now, with hopes that my kids will be better behaved when they're older (teenagers). It's very challenging though!

I think it's just the age where they start discovering their "self" and realizing that they have a choice (or so they think) in what they do, or how they do things. I absolutely believe that parents use it to excuse bad behavior though. I'm trying really hard to be consistent and nip the bad behavior in the bud now, with hopes that my kids will be better behaved when they're older (teenagers). It's very challenging though!

I've just heard so many parents say, "oh, it's just the terrible twos" when I see a child act up. For example, a friend of mine has a son who is fifteen months. They were in the grocery store and the boy wanted candy, and my friend said no. The boy threw a huge tantrum in the store, resulting in my friend leaving a basket full of groceries so she could take her son home. She later laughed and said he was just starting the "terrible twos".

I've just heard so many parents say, "oh, it's just the terrible twos" when I see a child act up. For example, a friend of mine has a son who is fifteen months. They were in the grocery store and the boy wanted candy, and my friend said no. The boy threw a huge tantrum in the store, resulting in my friend leaving a basket full of groceries so she could take her son home. She later laughed and said he was just starting the "terrible twos".

I don't know about this... Dd is 2 and will turn 3 in April. She is freakishly awesome (considering how awful people say 2yo are)... She has had maybe 2 crying fits her entire life... She listens really well, if I ask her not to do something she says "ok mommy" and does as I ask. I hardly ever have to raise my voice and don't have to yell. My friend's son is one month and 2 days younger than my dd... He will talk back, make ugly faces at you if you get on him about anything, will ignore you if you try to tell him something he doesn't like, but I notice he spends a lot of time with older cousins with bad manners. I also notice my friend doesn't follow through with punishment, does the "1,2,2.5,if you don't... Then, 1,2,2.5, stop it! 1!2!2.5!...." Then he finally listens when she's at the screaming point but he laughs. She used to swat him and he would laugh. So I have seen different behaviors in kids of the same age, but at the same time I notice our parenting styles are way different. Maybe that's the difference? Or exposure to older kids? Or exposure to any other kids who behave poorly? Can't tell.

I don't know about this... Dd is 2 and will turn 3 in April. She is freakishly awesome (considering how awful people say 2yo are)... She has had maybe 2 crying fits her entire life... She listens really well, if I ask her not to do something she says "ok mommy" and does as I ask. I hardly ever have to raise my voice and don't have to yell. My friend's son is one month and 2 days younger than my dd... He will talk back, make ugly faces at you if you get on him about anything, will ignore you if you try to tell him something he doesn't like, but I notice he spends a lot of time with older cousins with bad manners. I also notice my friend doesn't follow through with punishment, does the "1,2,2.5,if you don't... Then, 1,2,2.5, stop it! 1!2!2.5!...." Then he finally listens when she's at the screaming point but he laughs. She used to swat him and he would laugh. So I have seen different behaviors in kids of the same age, but at the same time I notice our parenting styles are way different. Maybe that's the difference? Or exposure to older kids? Or exposure to any other kids who behave poorly? Can't tell.

I have also heard 3's are more difficult. I try to communicate with dd at her level in a clear and fair way. We come up with phrases for certain feelings. She says "share nice" when she wants something instead of just taking or having a fit over not wanting to share and that has worked great. Our main issue with her is "no" because she wants to make the decisions. So usually I give her 2-3 choices that I approve of so no matter what she chooses, she's in control but I will approve so its win win. I hope we can keep that up for as long as possible :p

I have also heard 3's are more difficult. I try to communicate with dd at her level in a clear and fair way. We come up with phrases for certain feelings. She says "share nice" when she wants something instead of just taking or having a fit over not wanting to share and that has worked great. Our main issue with her is "no" because she wants to make the decisions. So usually I give her 2-3 choices that I approve of so no matter what she chooses, she's in control but I will approve so its win win. I hope we can keep that up for as long as possible :p

As I understood it, terrible two's refers to the two years between the ages of 2 and 4 (although they are recognized as early as age 1) and from a developmental stand point, they're very real. In fact, a study done by the University of Minnesota found that 91% of the children between ages 30 to 36 months had temper tantrums on a weekly basis. From a neurological stand point, the prefrontal cortex, which controls social behaviors, regulation of emotion, and impulse control, doesn't mature until around age 4 which is when the tantrums begin to slow down.

Science for the win!

As I understood it, terrible two's refers to the two years between the ages of 2 and 4 (although they are recognized as early as age 1) and from a developmental stand point, they're very real. In fact, a study done by the University of Minnesota found that 91% of the children between ages 30 to 36 months had temper tantrums on a weekly basis. From a neurological stand point, the prefrontal cortex, which controls social behaviors, regulation of emotion, and impulse control, doesn't mature until around age 4 which is when the tantrums begin to slow down.

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